National Treasure Investment Firm Redhill Announces Additional Data Analysis from Global Clinical Trials of Oral COVID-19 Treatment

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] Kookbo, a KOSPI-listed company, announced on the 29th that its affiliated biotechnology company in the US/Israel, RedHill Biopharma, which it acquired shares in, has analyzed powerful new data on Opaganib, an oral COVID-19 severe treatment under development, and released advanced research results.

Opaganib has demonstrated dual anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity targeting host cell components, and as a sphingosine kinase-2 selective inhibitor, it potentially minimizes the possibility of viral resistance, having already reported a 62% reduction in mortality among severe patients. The company explained that this additional data analysis proved positive safety and efficacy in some severe COVID-19 patients.

The company stated that the placebo group receiving standard treatment with Remdesivir or Dexamethasone had an average discharge time of 14 days, whereas Opaganib shortened this to 10 days, reducing hospitalization by 4 days per patient, and secured excellent safety comparable to the placebo group. In particular, Opaganib is effective against new viral variants regardless of viral mutations, including the Delta variant.

Meanwhile, Opaganib is currently undergoing a Phase 2 study for cholangiocarcinoma treatment, and it has been reported that it met conditions for disease control in a Phase 2 study for prostate cancer, confirming its effectiveness against tumors.

RHB-107 (Upamostat), also being studied simultaneously at RedHill, is an oral COVID treatment; while Opaganib targets severe patients, RHB-107 is aimed at mild COVID-19 patients. This treatment is currently in Phase 2/3 clinical trials, having recently completed patient recruitment for Phase 2, with clinical completion expected early next year. This treatment is also expected to be effective against new viral variants with mutations in the spike protein.

Recently, Merck’s Molnupiravir revealed interim clinical results showing about a 50% reduction in hospitalization and mortality rates, but citing the latest research report submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it was announced that Molnupiravir only reduced the risk of hospitalization and death in severe patients by 30%, raising concerns about the reliability of clinical data. In contrast, RedHill is conducting thorough verification considering the accuracy of clinical trial data for Opaganib’s 62% mortality efficacy and RHB-107, approaching research with caution.

Meanwhile, Kookbo announced on the 8th that it acquired shares in RedHill and was granted the exclusive negotiation rights for distribution rights in Korea and major Asian regions for the oral COVID-19 treatment under development by RedHill.